France Abandons Plan for Carbon Tax

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MATTHEW SALTMARSH
The New York Times
March 24, 2010

A d v e r t i s e m e n t

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After months of political rancor and legal obstacles, the French government on Tuesday shelved its plan to introduce a tax on carbon emissions that had been a cornerstone of President Nicolas Sarkozyâ€™s enviromental policy.

Ministers and members of the governing UMP party said the tax would put French companies at a disadvantage to their European neighbors, most of whom do not pay anything similar.

But analysts said the drubbing handed to the center-right government on Sunday in regional elections brought the U-turn from Mr. Sarkozy.